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Savings By Design Online Program Handbook

Savings By Design (SBD) is Californiaʼs nonresidential new construction energy efficiency program, administered statewide and funded by Utility customers through the Public Purpose Programs surcharge applied to gas and electric services.

This statewide approach offers the nonresidential building industry a multi-faceted program designed to consistently serve the needs of the building community throughout California. Savings By Design encourages energy-efficient building design and construction practices, promoting the efficient use of energy by offering up-front design assistance supported by financial incentives based on project performance.

Benefits of Participation. Projects participating in Savings By Design may receive services including design assistance, Owners Incentives, Design Team Incentives, and Energy Design Resources. Services begin in the project design phase and continue through construction completion. Design assistance can range from simple plan review and/or efficiency upgrade recommendations to complete computer simulation analysis comparing a number of alternative systems and integrated building design options. Financial incentives, to help offset increased design interaction and potential costs of construction, are available for projects that exceed thresholds established by the program. Participation in the program brings additional benefits, such as reduced long-term operating costs, greater comfort, health and productivity for occupants, and conservation of natural resources and cleaner air due to avoided power generation

Designed for Nonresidential New Construction Projects. Savings By Design targets the primary decision-makers in new construction and renovation/remodel projects: building Owners, developers, architects, engineers, designers, contractors, builders, and energy consultants. Savings By Design analyses provide detailed technical and financial assistance data that allows Owners and Design Teams to make informed decisions regarding energy efficiency features. The program serves commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers and utilizes the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6) as a reference baseline for comparison. The program encourages and moves energy savings within projects to perform better than mandated by Title 24. Other industry standards may be used where appropriate to determine reference baselines for comparisons.

This program is funded by California utility ratepayers and administered by Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and Southern California Gas Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The municipal portion of this program is funded and administered by Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.